Friday, June 1, 2012

Book Review: Hope Springs by Kim Cash Tate #christianbookreview

In a small Southern community where everyone is holding tight to something, the biggest challenge may be learning to let go.

Hope Springs, North Carolina, is the epitome of small town life—a place filled with quiet streets where families have been friends for generations, a place where there’s not a lot of change. Until three women suddenly find themselves planted there for a season.

Janelle Evans hasn’t gone back to Hope Springs for family reunions since losing her husband. But when she arrives for Christmas and learns that her grandmother is gravely ill, she decides to extend the stay.

Becca Anderson is finally on the trajectory she’s longed for. Having been in the ministry trenches for years, she’s been recruited as the newest speaker of a large Christian women’s conference. But her husband feels called to become the pastor of his late father’s church in Hope Springs. Will small town living affect her big ministry dreams?

And Stephanie London has the ideal life—married to a doctor in St. Louis with absolutely nothing she has to do. When her cousin Janelle volunteers to stay in Hope Springs and care for their grandmother, she feels strangely compelled to do the same. It’s a decision that will forever change her.

As these women come together, facing disappointments both public and private, they soon recognize that healing is needed in their hearts, their families, and their churches that have long been divided along racial lines. God's plan for them in Hope Springs—and for Hope Springs itself—is bigger than they ever imagined.

My Review:

Can I just say WOW! This book has it all! Faith, family, friendship, romance, even race relations!

The book starts off with a family reunion and ends with a funeral. Kim Cash Tate weaves a story like none I have read in recent times. It will make you laugh, weep and want to go all out for Jesus!

The author of this book captures her characters perfectly. To be able to weave so many people together seamlessly is truly a gift. There are about 6 or 7 different stories going on but they work and I like that. Her characters touched me emotionally with the similarities to people in my life and family. Each is carefully developed without drawing away from anyone else in the story. I feel like Janelle, Stephanie, Becca, and Libby were like my long lost cousins!

Emotionally the book took me on a rollercoaster. One minute I was laughing, the next I was weeping, the next I was ready to worship. LOL! It really was like that! I loved the flow of the book and didn't really find any disconnects where I lost what was going on. The incorporation of race relations wasn't subtle but it because such an integral part of the story that it would not have been complete without it. It's a true picture of a small town whether it's in the north, south, east or west.

Oh and Kim Cash Tate, if you read this, thanks for the shout out to Monmouth County, NJ!

From a Christian perspective, this is a wonderful book. The characters are frequently stepping out on faith. The pastors of the two town churches are integral to the story and work to unite the town. While there are references to infidelity and extramarital sex, it's not in a derogatory way. It's used to describe characters who have been redeemed or a on their way to accepting the redemption of Jesus. There is no foul language and nothing out of place in a Christian novel.

I HIGHLY recommend this novel. It's not often that I give 5 stars but this was that good!

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review as part of the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze program. I was not required to post a positive review, all opinions expressed are 100% my own.

About Me

Just to introduce myself, I'm a wife to one :-), Mom to three and Grandma to three. We live on the East Coast in the Mid-Atlantic region. Beside spending time in the Word, I also like to read a variety of books, digital scrapbook, spend time outdoors and photography. You can read my blog here: Take a Walk With Me